Purpose There is no rigorous exploration of how the different titles used by medical trainees in medical school affect patients’ perceptions of trainees. This study has two aims: (1) to understand the effects of medical trainee title on subjects’ perceptions, and (2) to understand the effects of informing subjects about the medical education system on comfort with trainees.

Methods A survey was distributed utilizing Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (n = 432). To explore aim 1 and 2, the survey included one randomized experimental treatment asking participants to imagine they were partaking in a hypothetical clinical encounter with a medical trainee using one of three titles. To explore aim 2, the survey instrument included an educational section and assessed changes in subjects’ comfort with trainees.

Results There was no association between trainee title and subjects’ perceptions of trainee responsibility, education level, or comfort with being examined. However, 41.4 % (n = 179) of subjects were not aware of the medical trainees’ training level, and education resulted in significant increases in comfort with being interviewed and examined by a trainee (p < 0.001).

Conclusions While trainee naming was not directly associated with subjects’ perceptions, educating patients about the medical education system may increase comfort level when they are with medical trainees.